Evaluation Of Weed Control Methods For Sweetpotato Production On An Ultisol Infested With Panicum Maximum And Mimosa Species

ABSTRACT

Field experiments were conducted at the eastern farm of the Michael University of Agriculture, Umudike and in a farm at Uyo central in 2007 rainy evaluate the effect of sweetpotatO varieties and different weed control methods c density, weed dry weight, crop leaf area index, photosyntheticallY active radiatio tuber yield. The study was established as a split-plot treatment with swectpotatO varic (T1S86/0356, T1S87/0087, Ex-lgbariam and OP/TI S2532. 1. SP. 13), as main p treatments. The subplot treatments comprised six weed control methods: three rates Primextra(at 1 .3 kg a.i had , 1 .98 kg a.i ha ,and 2.64 kg a.i had ), manual weeding carrR out once and twice, and an untreated control. Results obtained indicate that seetpotal varieties and weed control methods had significant influence on weed density and dr• matter. In Umudike, OP/T1S2532.I.SP. 13 followed by TI S87/0087 significantly reduced total weed density better than other varieties. In Uyo, lowest total weed density was obtained from plots planted to Ex-lgbariam, though not significant when compared with other varieties. In Umudike, Primextra at 2.64 kg a. i ha', and 1.98kg a i ha',followed by plots weeded twice controlled weeds better than the other treatments